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Biology > Role of Kidney in Homeostasis > Flashcards

Role of Kidney in Homeostasis Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the function of the kidney?

A

Osmoregulation - Control of the water content of the body
Removal of waste products mainly urea
Controls the volume and concentration of urine

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2
Q

Why is osmoregulation important?

A

Differences in water content of the body tissues affect concentrations and therefore rates of reactions as all chemical reactions take place in an aqueous solution.
Also determines the direction of water movement into and out of cells by osmosis.

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3
Q

What is urea?

A

A poisonous substance made in the liver from the breakdown of excess proteins.

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4
Q

How does the human excretory system work?

A

The human excretory system takes place in the kidneys. Urine is formed in the kidneys and then drains down the ureters to be temporarily stored in the bladder, before exiting via the urethra.

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5
Q

How is blood brought to the kidneys?

A

The blood is brought to the kidneys from the heart via the aorta and then the renal arteries and then returns via the renal veins and the vena cava.

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6
Q

What does the ureter do?

A

Takes urine to the bladder from the kidneys.

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7
Q

What does the bladder do?

A

Store the urine

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8
Q

What does the urethra do?

A

Releases urine from the bladder out of the body.

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9
Q

What are the structures of the internal structure of a kidney?

A

Cortex, medulla, renal pelvis, ureter, renal artery/vein

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10
Q

Where is urine drained in the kidney?

A

The pelvis before leaving via ureter.

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11
Q

What is a kidney made up of?

A

Millions of small tubes called nephrons which extract wastes from the blood to produce urine, a waste solution containing urea and excess salts.

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12
Q

What are the 3 steps of the nephron?

A

Filtration, selective reabsorption and osmoregulation

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13
Q

Explain step 1 of the nephron

A

Filtration
The walls of the capillary knot and the Bowman’s capsule are leaky and as the blood flows through the capillary knot under high pressure the blood is forced into the bowman’s capsule. Only small molecules can get through the pores so the wall acts like a filter.

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14
Q

How is pressure created in the capillary knot?

A

The arteriole leading into the capillary knot is wider than the one leading away from it so pressure builds up in the capillary knot.

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15
Q

Explain step 2 of the nephron

A

Selective reabsorption
Some of the substances that get through the filter are useful to the body. Glucose, some salts and most water is reabsorbed into the blood.
The molecules not reabsorbed travel down the tubule as urine and are transported to the bladder via the ureter. Here they are stored and eventually excreted.

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16
Q

Explain step 3 of the nephron

A

Osmoregulation
The water content of the urine is adjusted dependent on the body’s needs. If the blood is too dilute (too much water drunk) less water is reabsorbed and urine is pale and dilute
If the blood is too concentrated then reabsorption is increased and the urine is darker and more concentrated.

17
Q

What controls the reabsorption of water?

A

The Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

18
Q

What does ADH do?

A

Cause the kidneys to reabsorb more water into the blood producing more concentrated urine.

19
Q

Where is ADH secreted?

A

The pituitary gland

20
Q

What detects the concentration of blood?

A

The brain

21
Q

What is process is osmoregulation an example of?

A

Negative feedback

22
Q

What happens at the end of the nephron?

A

The urine exters a collecting duct which drains into the bladder via the ureter. The collecting duct is under control of ADH which controls how much water can move into the blood by osmosis.

23
Q

What is present in the blood?

A

Water
Salts
Urea
Glucose
Proteins
Cells

24
Q

What is present in the kidney filtrate?

A

Water
Salts
Urea
Glucose

25
Q

What is not present in the kidney filtrate?

A

Proteins
Cells

26
Q

What is present in the urine?

A

Less water
Less salts
Urea

27
Q

What is not present in the urine?

A

Glucose
Proteins
Cells

28
Q

What does presence of glucose in the urine indicate?

A

Diabetes

29
Q

What does presence of blood or cells in the urine indicate?

A

Kidney disease

30
Q

What are the 2 treatments of kidney disease?

A

Kidney dialysis
Kidney transplant

31
Q

How does kidney transplant work?

A

Taking a kidney from a living donor or someone who recently deceased and implanting it into the patient via surgery

32
Q

How do you minimise the risk of kidney rejection?

A

Tissue typing to ensure the transplant organ is compatible.
Immunosuppressant drugs which help to prevent the immune system from rejecting the organ.

33
Q

Advantages of kidney transplant?

A

More permanent solution
Improves patients quality of life

34
Q

Disadvantages of kidney transplant?

A

Difficult to find a suitable donor
Involves major surgery
Transplant kidney has a limited life-span
Risk of organ rejection
May have to take immunosuppressant drugs for life.

35
Q

How does kidney dialysis work?

A

When a patient is hooked up to the machine the blood is taken out of a blood vessel in their arm and pumped through the machine. Dialysate (dialysis fluid containing salts) is also put through the machine. The dialysate is separated from the blood by a semipermeable membrane which acts as the kidneys natural filter. The concentration of the dialysate is controlled to ensure that only excess salts and water pass through it.

36
Q

Why does the dialysate have less water and salt than the blood?

A

So salts diffuse into the dialysate down a concentration gradient and water moves out of the blood by osmosis.

37
Q

Advantages of dialysis?

A

No major surgery
Patient can undergo dialysis while waiting for a donor kidney

38
Q

Disadvantages of dialysis?

A

Connected to machine for many hours a week
May have to travel to hospital
Must control diet
Not a permanent solution

Biology (8 decks)

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